Cardinals Intensify Third Base Search

The Cardinals have intensified their search for help at third base, reports Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Felipe Lopez has struggled of late; he's been David Freese's main replacement at the hot corner. Allen Craig made his first start at the position yesterday, but manager Tony La Russa isn't keen on the idea of using Craig there. One outside name on the Cardinals' radar is Brandon Inge. Strauss says they retain interest in the Tigers' third baseman, who returned from a fractured hand on August 4th and should be placed on waivers this week.

Inge is fairly pricey, with $1.76MM of his $6.6MM salary remaining. All American League teams plus any National League club with a worse winning percentage than the Cardinals will have first crack at him. The Cards have a .560 winning percentage, so the Phillies, Braves, Reds, Giants, and Padres are behind them in the waiver order currently.

I bet the Braves would give Glaus away. Freeman should be playing first base right now. The only reason Glaus still has the job is Bobby respects veterans and will play a guy who isn’t playing well but still tries. I think he also has a soft spot for former third basemen who have arthritic hips and knee joints. They remind him of a himself.

Of course Glaus can’t play third base anymore so the Cards would have even less use for him than the Braves.

Inge hasn’t been put out on waivers yet. I question if he will. The Tigers may decide to keep Inge around so they are able to sell more tickets the rest of the season. For some reason way too many fans (that know nothing about baseball) in Detroit think Inge is the star of the team. He wins the fan vote for player of the game on a nightly basis. I hope he moves though, I’m sick of watching Inge either strikeout or hit a home run.

I don’t see the appeal of trading for someone who is coming back from a broken hand. He’s going to hit for much less consistent power. Losing hand strength is murder on a players power, it takes a good year for a player with a hand or wrist injury to regain their full power.

I am a Detroit fan and maybe I took things a little far, but I’m tired of a lot of Detroit fans giving Inge far more credit than he deserves. I don’t know who the tigers can find in the offseason, maybe Chone Figgins, but I’m about ready for Inge to go.

CHONE FIGGINS…Switch hitting leadoff. Base Stealer. Under control through 2013 with a vesting option. Adequate pop. A plus defensive player at several positions, but most comfortable at third. Probably mismanaged in Seattle and in the wrong position to provide most of the reasons for THE incident…otherwise, a good teammate, by all reports. His defensive stats are in the ballpark at third compared to Inge and he’s a better hitter who gets on base.

All your points are right. However, the Cardinals aren’t looking for a long-term 3B option. (OK, I’m not with the FO, but they shouldn’t be looking long-term.) Figgins is guaranteed $26MM over the next three years with a vesting option for 2014 for $9MM. Way too much money there.